There is nothing worse than sitting to dine in and having a takeaway cup delivered to your table. Whether it’s plastic lined paper, compostable, or totally plastic for iced drinks, if you were trying to avoid single use plastic, it can leave a bitter taste before you’ve even had a sip.
With over 8 million tonnes of plastic dumped into our oceans each year, we need to focus on ‘Refuse’ as the first port of call in our strategy to end plastic consumption. According to a report by the World Economic Forum, if current trends continue, the weight of plastic waste in our oceans will surpass the weight of fish by the year 2050. This staggering statistic highlights the urgent need to reduce our reliance on single use plastic and find more sustainable alternatives. By refusing single use plastic when dining in at cafes, we can all play a part in reducing the amount of plastic waste that ends up in our environment.
Cafe Owners: Taking the lead in reducing single use plastic
As a cafe owner, you have the power to make a significant difference in reducing single use plastic in your establishment. Here are some steps you can take to lead the way in promoting sustainable practices:
1. Encourage BYO, and introduce a mug library or a cup swap system to foster a reuse culture. You can also offer reusable options that customers can purchase.
2. Offer Alternatives to Single Use Plastic Disposables: Instead of automatically providing plastic straws and utensils with every order, consider offering more sustainable alternatives such as stainless steel straws. You can also encourage customers to bring their own reusable coffee cups, straws and utensils.
3. Provide Water Refill Stations: Instead of offering single use plastic water bottles, consider installing water refill stations in your cafe where customers can refill their reusable water bottles. Highlight that you’re happy to refill, and this will help reduce the number of plastic bottles that are discarded after just one use.
4. Educate Your Staff and Customers: Take the time to educate your staff on the importance of reducing single use plastic and encourage them to support your efforts. Suggest the use of phrases in their ordering narrative such as “are you happy with a real cup?”, “would you like this in one of our preloved mugs?” or “would you like to try our new reusable swap system?”. You can also raise awareness among your customers by displaying informative posters or providing information on your menu about your sustainable practices.
5. Use Home Compostable Packaging: When packaging takeout orders or serving food that needs to be wrapped, opt for certified home compostable packaging instead of traditional plastic containers. Promote the benefits of composting (at home or via the FOGO organic bin), set up a compost system and lead the way, and encourage customers to contribute.
By implementing these changes in your cafe, you can inspire others in the hospitality industry to follow suit and help reduce the amount of single use plastic that is being used and discarded on a daily basis. If you’re looking for inspiration, check out our blog post with Sondie from bRU Coffee Bondi, who stopped using single use cups altogether!
Cafe Customers: Making a difference, refusing single use plastic one piece at a time
As a customer, you play a crucial role in supporting sustainable practices and reducing single use plastic when dining out at cafes. Here are some ways you can make a difference:
1. Support Eco-Friendly Cafes: Use our Responsible Cafes map and seek out cafes that prioritise sustainability and environmental stewardship. Look for establishments that offer incentives for bringing reusable items, or actively promote eco-friendly practices.
2. Bring Your Own Reusable Items: Before heading out to your favourite cafe, remember to pack your own simple reusable items such as a water bottle, coffee cup, and shopping bag. By bringing your own items, you can avoid the need for single use plastic and help reduce your environmental footprint.
3. Politely Decline Single Use Plastic: When ordering at a cafe, politely decline any single use plastic that are offered to you, such as cups, straws, utensils, or condiment packets. You can simply say, “No, thank you, I don’t need a straw”, “I brought my own utensils, thank you”, or ask if a dine in option is available as limiting single use plastic is important to you.
4. Spread the Word: Share your commitment to reducing single use plastic with friends and family, and encourage them to join you in making more sustainable choices when dining out. By raising awareness and leading by example, you can inspire others to make a positive impact on the environment.
The best way to avoid unwanted single use plastic is to be be proactive and prepared – for customers that could mean politely specifying that you’re dining in and would like a reusable mug or glass for your drink. For cafe owners, it could mean putting all single use plastic items behind the counter so customers have to request them, giving your staff an opportunity to let them know you’re trying to reduce your plastic consumption. By encouraging each other and working together, we can put an end to our reliance on single use plastic!
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Content creator and social media maven, Amy keeps our Cafes and fellow waste warriors connected and updated across all of the Responsible Cafe socials. Passionate about inspiring positive change, sustainability, and performing, she can usually be found filming and editing videos with her furry sidekick, Banks!